A bipartisan group of lawmakers are calling on congressional leaders to include a rider protecting universities from losing funding for researching marijuana.
The coalition of lawmakers recently sent a letter to congressional leaders. In the letter, they said that universities that engage in cannabis research should not have to worry about losing their federal funds just for researching marijuana.
The letter is led by Reps. Joe Neguse (D) and Kelly Armstrong (R). It requests that the base bill includes language guaranteeing that funds from the Department of Education cannot be withheld solely because a given institution is “conducting or is preparing to conduct research” into marijuana.
15 lawmakers joined Neguse and Armstrong in signing the letter. The issue at hand is if the prohibition of cannabis on the federal level should be a basis for universities to lose their funding.
This is worrisome for institutions in states that have legalized marijuana either medically, recreationally, or both. Especially if federal agencies withhold funds from higher education institutions solely based on cannabis-specific research.
The Future of Researching Marijuana
Currently, multiple institutions conducting a range of cannabis-related research. “Formal research is especially important as more states legalize medical marijuana,” the letter states. “We need medical professionals who are equipped with the knowledge and certification to discuss competently issues surrounding cannabis and health”.
Many universities have expressed interest in conducting scientific and observational research on the cannabis plant. But they are hesitant to do so because of a fear of losing eligibility to receive federal grants.
“Evidence-based research regarding cannabis ought to be encouraged in academic settings, not discouraged.”
Lawmakers want leaders in the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee to include a rider into an upcoming spending bill. The rider will protect colleges that allow programs to research marijuana.
The proposed rider reads:
“None of the funds provided by this Act or provided by previous Appropriations Acts to the Department of Education shall be withheld from an institute of higher education solely because that institute is conducting or is preparing to conduct research on marijuana as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 802 (16).”
Last year the subcommittee included a similar rider in a bill that the House passed. They will likely do this again this year. Although, the Senate did not follow suit last year while under GOP control. So, the rider did not make it in the final bill that was signed into law. It is still unknown if the Democrat Senate will advance the cannabis rider this year or not.
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